There are a surprising number of vehicles that cannot use traditional snowchains, the types that put chain on the inside of the wheel as well as on the tread. This is usually because there is not enough space between the wheels and the shock absorbers; this can be a problem for ordinary SUVs and 4x4s as well as for high performance cars.

You will find this important information in your car handbook - please check this before using your snowchains! Our database is intended to do the basic work for you but, with so many new vehicles and tyre sizes, it should only ever be treated as a guide.

Tyre size

Please also check your tyre size - if you buy incorrectly-sized chains they will be either too tight or too loose.

Ladder track chains

The good news is that car handbooks usually only refer to "traditional snowchains". Ladder track chains such as the Polaire GRIP and Spikes-Spider range only put chain over the tyre tread, so are not subject to these restrictions. They are also ideal for use on rear wheel drives where there is minimal space between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch.

Buy 2 or more and get better pricing, even if you mix cheap and expensive or different brands. All roof mounting racks included.

Package Deals

Huge Savings
Save up to 30% when you buy bike carriers and roof bars as a package.

Roof mounting bike carriers

There are three types of bike racks that fit to the roof of a car - frame holding, fork holding, and tyre holding. Check out the info links below for more information, and then use the Filter and Sort buttons to help you choose.

Roof mounting carriers have to be fitted to a set of roof bars going across the car. Some dealer supplied bars are not suitable - check the individual products for more information.

Look out for our "Pick and Mix Multibuys" and our Package deals, and note that all our roof mounting bike carriers are in our 90 day exchange scheme. Prices and value have never been so good!

Roof mounted options:

Frame holderFrame holding carriers hold the bike by the down tube; you keep both wheels on the bike. They all have the same basic geometry but some hold awkward-shaped frames better than others; we add information about specific bikes to the product pages as and when we receive it. They generally can't cope with very small children's bikes (which are best put in a bag in the car boot).Highlights: The best frame holders have their clamping system operating handle at shoulder level - see the Thule ProRide 598 and the Atera GIRO AF. These two are almost equally quick to use, and the Atera provides better wheel support, but the overall robustness of the Thule makes it our 'Best Buy' in this sector.Look out for our "Pick and Mix Multibuys" - you can mix cheap and expensive at the best prices - and our Package deals if you also need roof bars, and note that all our roof mounting bike carriers are in our 90 day exchange scheme.

Frame holder

Prices from only£15.95

Fork holderOne weakness of frame holders is that, apart from the Atera GIRO AF, the wheel holders don't give the wheels much support, so you'll occasionally see quite violent front wheel vibration.Fork holders are much more stable, the only downside being that you have to put the front wheel either on a separate holder or more usually in a wheel bag in the vehicle.Highlights: The INNO Multi Fork takes QR15 and QR20 forks as well as the standard 9mm dropouts; the Whispbar WB200 takes QR15 as well as 9mm dropouts. Both have innovative anti-theft systems.Look out for our "Pick and Mix Multibuys" - you can mix cheap and expensive at the best prices - and our Package deals if you also need roof bars, and note that all our roof mounting bike carriers are in our 90 day exchange scheme.

Fork holder

Prices from only£67.95

Tyre holderChances are that if you have a full carbon frame you don't want it held by either a frame holder or a fork holder. No surprise that INNO ("Advanced Car Racks") have a solution - they're Japan's premier manufacturer. Their Tyre Hold holds the bike very firmly by its front and rear wheels - it's a seriously impressive piece of kit.look out for our "Pick and Mix Multibuys" - you can mix cheap and expensive at the best prices - and our Package deals if you also need roof bars, and note that all our roof mounting bike carriers are in our 90 day exchange scheme.

INNOís Tyre Hold rack is another innovative and beautifully made product from Japanís market leader. The bike is held only by its tyres, so no part of the rack touches the bike frame or cables Ė making this rack the ideal, and often only, option for bikes with carbon frames, or for non-standard shaped frames that donít fit a standard bike carrier.